Page 57 of Fox
Her glare softens as a small smile pulls at her lips. “Fine, you win this round.”
TWENTY-FOUR
janie
“Name? Oh my god.” The nasally-sounding blonde woman sitting in the registration booth drops her pen while looking at me in complete shock. I try to give her my famous smile, though I’m sure it comes off more like a grimace.
“Jai,” I state softly as I look expectantly at the rack of lanyards with name tags. To say I’m terrified to be here would be the biggest understatement ever. Due to my tremors, I rarely came to meet and greets when I was loved. So being here now, when a huge percentage of the internet hates me, is probably a dumb idea. But I need to get my old life back and get away from Fox and Hel’s.
The woman stares blankly at me as she reaches into a box on the floor to dig out my name tag and then hands it to me along with a lanyard. I guess they didn’t think I would show either. I give the woman a small smile before walking away from the booth to head inside the convention area. I get to the entrance and instantly freeze; it’s so loud, and there are so many people there.I can’t do this. I turn quickly and run down several halls until I’m in an abandoned area of the center, and I see abathroom sign. I walk in and head toward the sink, gripping it tightly as wave after wave of dread and anxiety crashes over me.
My phone buzzes, and I look to see it’s Fox.
Fox: Torch, they’re threatening to have a gray sweatpants competition.
Fox: Next time you send me out here with these idiots with no backup. I’m kicking your ass.
Me: You worried you won’t win?
Fox: HA! You know better than anyone I’d win.
I do know.
God, I ached for three days after. Fox has ruined me for any other man, though if I’m completely honest, that happened way before we had sex. All I want is to be there with him or for him to be here. I want it so badly it’s causing me actual pain. And this is why I need to get out. I need to get out because I know he doesn’t want anything more from me, and I want everything from him.
I look at myself in the mirror and scowl at the person staring back at me.
Jai.
Poker straight hair, perfect brows, not a freckle in sight. I highlighted and contoured cheeks with a smokey eye and a dangerously sharp winged liner, thanks to Ren.
I wear an emerald green skater mini skirt, brown suede over-the-knee boots, and a tight cream-colored long-sleeve shirt.
I see Jai’s bottom lip wobbling in the reflection.
“Stop it.” I snarl into the mirror. I look down at the sink and take another breath. I have to do this. I have to find a way out of Hel’s—a way out of Fox’s life.
My phone vibrates again.
“Goddammit. Stop it!” I yell before pushing off the sink and yanking open the door, returning to the meet and greet. I’m strong enough to do this. I’m strong enough to deal with anything the people in there have to say. I’m not, however, strong enough to deal with seeing Fox every day, knowing that I can’t have him the way I want.
I smile at the tan,blond man in front of me as he goes over the company he works for,Bliss Trips. It’s a travel influencer company based in Chicago. My social media experience has never been travel-based, but maybe getting out of this city isn’t the worst idea.
“This sounds amazing.” I smile at him and notice he looks away and rubs the back of his head as if he were nervous.
“Y-Yeah,” he smiles and looks at me with his brown eyes. “I think you would be a good fit with us. I mean, I will have to talk it over with my boss, but I have your email, and I will get back to you as soon as I know anything.”
I hear snickering behind me and quickly excuse myself from the man. I’ve been in the room for about an hour, andBliss Tripshas been the only company willing to talk to me. I’ve been called a whore, a liar, and a snake. I was booed out of a panel I was supposed to sit in on, and now I have a group of people behind me taking pictures and laughing.
I look at my phone and see all the notifications on the social media apps, and I feel overwhelming dread. I get into my texts and go to my group chat with Stevie and Ren.
Me: Girls, I need out. I can’t do this.
Stevie: On the way babe, find somewhere quiet and we will text when we arrive.
Ren: If someone upsets you, I will beat their ass.
Me: You’re a lawyer, that doesn’t sound smart.
